Apparatus for decorating glassware



Oct- 25, 1955 v. J. ZlTKUS APPARATUS FOR DECORATING GLASSWARE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1953 VICTOR JZITKUS Oct. 25, 1955 v J z us2,721,535

I NG GLASSWARE United States APPARATUS FOR DEC'ORATING GLASSWARE VictorJ. Zitkus, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, acorporation of Qhio The present invention relates to apparatus fordecorating articles of glassware, such as tumblers and the like.

It is common practice to spray frost, or similarly apply an overalldecorative coating to the exterior surface of tumblers and likearticles, such being accomplished by supporting the articles in arotatable chuck, or holder and rotating same while the article is in thepath of the coating material being sprayed from a suitable spray gun.Such operation, as indicated, results in complete coating of theexterior surface.

Experience has proved that an overall coating, particularly thecustomary white frosting is in some respects objectionable. For example,where such frosting extends to the rim or lip, of the tumbler, as itusually does, it frequently becomes discolored with lipstick, etc.,which is exceedingly diflicult to remove, as compared with the ease ofremoval from clear glass.

An object of my invention therefore is the provision of novel andefficient means whereby the application of such frosting may be omittedfrom the extreme upper area to thereby provide a plain band of uncoatedglass at and in proximity to the rim portion.

atent O Another object of my invention is the provision of novel meansfor effecting a sharp definition and uniform thickness of the uppermargin of the frosting, or other coating applied to a tumbler or sucharticle.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means utilizing airunder pressure to define the upper margin of such applied coatingmaterial.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view of the combined upperchucking means and air spray head; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention it is shown as including asupporting frame 10 for chucking means designed to rotatably support atumbler 11, or such substantially cylindrical article, in the path of aliquid spray 12 of coating material being discharged by a spray gun 13,or like device. Such coating material may be a colored paint, or a whitefrosting material and is applied as a continuous coating to the exteriorsurface of the artcile.

The chucking means comprises a driven base chuck 14 with its axisvertically disposed and a pulley 15, over which a driven belt 16 istrained. This chuck is recessed on its upper side to receive the base ofthe tumbler 11. A head chuck and air directing unit '17 is positionedabove and coaxial with the base chuck 14, such being freely rotatablymounted on a tubular support 18 which also conducts air under pressureto the unit 17, as will be brought out in greater detail hereinafter.The tumbler 11 locks the base and head chucks together, so that bothrotate with the tumbler incident "ice to positive driving of the basechuck by means of the belt 16.

The head chuck and air directing unit 17 comprises a carrier 19rotatably mounted upon the lower end of the tube 18, there being aball-bearing mounting 20 to permit free rotary movement of said carrier.A combined centering and closing disk 21 is suspended from the carrierin vertical spaced relation thereto by means of screws 22 or bolts. Thisdisk may be formed of metal, or perhaps a rubber composition, or somesuch material which will minimize the likelihood of chipping the rim ofthe tumbler 11 with which it makes sealing contact. Preferably the lowerside of this disk has its marginal portion 23 tapered upwardly andoutwardly so that the disk in part projects into the tumbler andfunctions not only to seal the latter, but also aids in centering same.

In order to restrict the application of the coating material to asurface spaced from the upper end of the tumbler and define a sharpclean upper margin for such coating, I direct an annular sheet of airunder pressure inwardly and slightly downward against the outer surfaceof the glass at the desired level. This sheet of air provides aneffective barrier to the passage of the coating material above thedesired point. Thus the tumbler has a clear uncoated area at and inproximity to the rim portion.

The air sheet directing, or applying means, comprises an invertedcircular cup-like hood 24 firmly held against the lower side of thecarrier 19 by means of an inwardly extending flange 25 which rests uponthe marginal portion of the aforementioned centering disk 21. The sidewall 26 is of suflicient height to provide a distributor chamber 27between the centering disk 21 and upper wall of the hood, such chamberbeing in communication with the air pressure supply tube 18 and anannular series of vertical ports 28 formed in the hood side wall 26.

These ports 28 are formed in a transversely thickened section of theside wall 26 and open at their lower ends into an annular chamber 29which in turn has a discharge slot 30 at its lower side. This slottapers downwardly and generally radially inward toward the axis of thehood. One wall 31 of this slot is formed by beveling the lower end ofside wall 26 in proximity to its inner vertical surface While the otherwall 32 is formed by a tapered annular flange 33 carried by a collar 34which is secured to the wall 26 by screws 35, or like fasteners. Theflange and collar, as is apparent, also comprise the outer and lowerwalls of the annular chamber 29.

The mechanism for supplying air under pressure to the tube 18 and thenceto the hood 24 and for moving the carrier 19 with parts associatedtherewith is mounted upon the frame 10. It includes a vertical guidesleeve 36 for the air supply tube 18 carried by an arm 37 which ispivoted for vertical swinging movement upon a horizontal pivot pin 38,the latter being mounted in a bearing 39 on said frame. A stop 40 on thelower side of the arm 37 limits downward movement of the latter toinsure vertical axial alignment of the tube 18 and carrier 19 with thebase chuck 14. A coil spring 41 yieldingly holds the arm 37 and partscarried thereby in the full line position shown. An inward extension 42,or finger, on this arm 37 is adapted for engagement with an actuatinglever 43 when the carrier 19 is to be .moved to and from the dotted lineposition shown. 1

This lever is pivoted to the aforementioned pivot pin 38 and at itsforward end is connected to collar 44 carried by the air supply tube 13.An extension 45 at the inner end of the lever 43 is movable downwardlyabout the pivot pin 38, and in opposition to the pull spring 46, by

means of a cam 47, or some equivalent means. Thus the lever is moved toaxially shift the tube 18 and parts carried thereby to either clear, orenclose, the open end ofthe tumbler 11, depending upon the direction ofmovement of said lever. If the forward end of the lever is movingupwardly preparatory to removal of the tumbler 11, the extension 45 isbrought into contact with the finger 42 on the pivoted arm 37 after thehood 24 has cleared the tumbler. Continued movement of said levercorrespondingly moves the arm 37 causing outward swinging of the carrier19, hood 24 and associated parts to the dotted line position (Fig. 1),thereby facilitating both loading and unloading of the chuck. Air underpressure is supplied to the tube 18 through a flexible pipe line 48provided with a pressure gauge 49. The foregoing mechanism for movingthe carrier 19 and associated parts of the head chuck 17, is merely oneexample of a convenient means for accomplishing the desired result. Acomplete machine may comprise an annular series of such units in whichevent the cam 47 would be elongated and extend partly about the machineaxis.

I have determined that the air pressure is exceedingly important. If thepressure is too low there is a strong tendency for the upper margin ofthe applied coating to be irregular and feathered. On the other hand,too high a pressure results in a heavy layer at said margin. Accordingto my experience, pressure of approximately five to six p. s. i.produces very satisfactory results.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, means for supporting a generally cylindrical articlefor rotation about its axis, comprising spaced axially aligned chucks,one chuck including an article end closing and centering member, meansfor rotat ing the chucks and article, means for spraying a liquidcoating material upon the exterior surface of the article while. thelatter is rotating, and means in part encircling the closing andcentering member for directing an annular sheet of air under pressureinwardly and in a direction slightly away from the closing and centeringmeans against a peripheral surface of the article in proximity to saidmember.

2. In combination, means for supporting a generally cylindrical articlefor rotation about its axis, comprising spaced axially aligned chucks,one chuck including an article end closing and centering member, meansfor rotating the chucks and article, means for spraying a liquid coatingmaterial upon the exterior surface of the article while the latter isrotating, means in part encircling the member, and means for yieldinglyholding the centering member in engagement with the article.

3. In combination, means for supporting a generally cylindrical articlefor rotation about its axis, comprising spaced axially aligned chucks,one chuck including an article end closing and centering member, meansfor rotating the chucks and aritcle, means for spraying a liquid coatingmaterial upon the exterior surface of the article while the latter isrotating, means in part encircling the closing and centering member fordirecting an annular sheet of air under pressure inwardly and in adirection slightly away from the closing and centering means against aperipheral surface of the article in proximity to said member, means foryieldingly holding the centering member in engagement with the article,and means for moving the centering member and air directing means as aunit axially away from the article to release the latter for removalfrom the chucks.

4. In combination, means for supporting a generally cylindrical articlefor rotation about its axis, comprising spaced axially aligned chucks,one chuck including an article end closing and centering member, meansfor rotating the chucks and article, means for spraying a liquid coatingmaterial upon the exterior surface of the article while the latter isrotating, and means in part encircling the closing and centering memberfor directing an annular sheet of air under pressure inwardly and in adirection slightly away from the closing and centering means against aperipheral surface of the article in proximity to said memebr, said airdirecting means being mounted for rotation with the centering member andbeing coaxial therewith.

5. In combination, means for supporting a generally cylindrical articlefor rotation about its axis, comprising spaced axially aligned chucks,one chuck including an article end closing and centering member, meansfor rotating the chucks and article, means for spraying a liquid coatingmaterial upon the exterior surface of the article while the latter isrotating, means in part encircling the closing and centering member fordirecting anannular sheet of air under pressure inwardly and in adirection slightly away from the closing and centering means against aperipheral surface of the article in proximity to said member, said airdirecting means being mounted for rotation with the centering member andbeing coaxial therewith, and a supply pipe for air under pressureconnected to said air directing means.

6. In combination, means for supporting a generally cylindrical articlefor rotation about its axis, comprising spaced axially aligned chucks,one chuck including an article end closing and centering member, meansfor rotating the chucks and article, means for spraying a liquid coatingmaterial upon the exterior surface of the article while the latter isrotating and means in part encircling the closing and centering memberfor directing an annular sheet of air under pressure inwardly and in adirection slightly away from the closing and centering means against aperipheral surface of the article in proximity to said member, said airdirecting means including an annular series of ports and an annular slotcommunicating with said ports and having an outlet for the air facingsaid article.

7. In combination, means for supporting a generally cylindrical articlefor rotation about its axis, comprising spaced axially aligned chucks,one chuck including an article end closing and centering member, meansfor rotating the chucks and article, means for spraying a liquid coatingmaterial upon the exterior surface of the article while the latter isrotating, and means in part encircling the closing and centering memberfor directing an annular sheet of air under pressure inwardly and in adirection slightly away from the closing and centering means against aperipheral surface of the article in proximity to said member, said airdirecting means including an annular series of ports and an inclinedannular discharge slot.

8. In combination, chuck means for supporting a generally cylindricaltumbler with its axis extending substantially vertically and with itsopen end upward, said chuck means including a driven rotatable basechuck, a head chuck coaxial with the base chuck and including a combinedcentering and closing member partially insertable into and engageablewith the open end of the tumbler, a freely rotatable carrier for saidcentering member, means on the carrier for directing an annular sheet ofair under pressure substantially radially inward against a narrowperipheral surface of the tumbler, and means for spraying a liquidcoating material onto the exterior surface of the tumbler duringrotation thereof.

9. In combination, chuck means for supporting a generally cylindricaltumbler with its axis extending substantially vertically and with itsopen end upward, said chuck means including a driven rotatable basechuck, a

head chuck coaxial with the base chuck and including a combinedcentering and closing member partially insertable into and engageablewith the open end of the tumbler, a freely rotatable carrier for saidcentering member,

means on the carrier for directing an annular sheet of air underpressure substantially radially inward against a narrow peripheralsurface of the tumbler, and means for spraying a liquid coating materialonto the exterior surface of the tumbler during rotation thereof, saidair directing means including an annular collar depending from saidcarrier and encircling the centering member, an annular series of airports in said collar and a radially downwardly and inwardly extendingdischarge slot communicating with said ports.

10. In combination, chuck means for supporting a generally cylindricaltumbler with its axis extending substantially vertically and with itsopen end upward, said chuck means including a driven rotatable basechuck, a head chuck coaxial with the base chuck and including a combinedcentering and closing member partially insertable into and engageablewith the open end of the tumbler, a freely rotatable carrier for saidcentering member, means on the carrier for directing an annular sheet ofair under pressure substantially radially inward against a narrowperipheral surface of the tumbler, and means for spraying a liquidcoating material onto the exterior surface of the tumbler duringrotation thereof, said air directing means including an invertedcup-like hood suspended from the centering member coaxially therewithand enclosing the latter, said hood having an annular chamber at itslower end and an annular discharge slot directed generally radiallyinward and downward toward the axis of said hood, said hood also havingan annular series of vertical ports opening into the annular chamber,and means for supplying air under pressure to said ports.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,226,856 Bradley May 22, 1917 1,347,994 Day July 27, 1920 2,084,094Kronguest et al June 15, 1937 2,088,542 Westin July 27, 1937

